Kazakh National Bank Introduces New 10,000 Tenge Banknote Design
The National Bank of Kazakhstan Unveils New Design for 10,000 Tenge Banknotes
ASTANA – The National Bank of Kazakhstan has introduced a new design for the 10,000 tenge (US$22) banknotes that will be in circulation starting from June 28. The banknotes will enter mass circulation in September, with additional time required for delivery to all regions of the country and adaptation of equipment such as automated teller machines (ATMs), terminals, and other cash equipment.
The new banknote’s design is inspired by elements of the Saka style, paying tribute to the Saka tribes that lived in Kazakhstan in the first millennium BC. The Saka style is considered the origin of traditional Kazakh ornamentation and symbolizes the nation’s heritage. The front of the banknote features a snow leopard on a mountaintop, symbolizing fearlessness, power, and beauty, along with the “Tree of Life” branch and a soaring bird representing the connection between nature and belief. The reverse side showcases a leopard and a circular Kazakh ornament, symbolizing a shield and the four sides of the world.
This new banknote is the second in the Saka-style series, following the redesign of the 5,000 tenge banknote earlier this year.
All existing banknotes from the 2012 sample will continue to be accepted for a period of two years while the new banknotes gradually replace them. During this parallel circulation period, the population does not need to exchange old-style banknotes for new ones. After the two-year period, banks and Kazakhstan’s postal service (Kazpost) will exchange old-style banknotes for new ones until June 28, 2029. The National Bank branches will accept old banknotes indefinitely.
The new 10,000 tenge banknotes reflect Kazakhstan’s rich cultural heritage and aim to celebrate the nation’s history through modern design elements.
